Wisdom and Education Imparted to the Young Via Video Games

Wisdom and Education Imparted to the Young Via Video Games:
An US-based video game lab is taking this one step further, using video games to gauge the technological capabilities of students.  According to the press release on Market Watch:

A new video game design lab will research and develop compelling video games that engage students in innovative ways and provide data on students’ comprehension of the core skills deemed critical by states for college and the 21^st century workplace.

The lab – GLASS Lab – will be based in Redwood City at EA’s headquarters, strategically situated in the Bay Area, just a short drive from Silicon Valley.  GLASS stands for the Games, Learning and Assessment Lab and received donations from major foundations – John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.


GLASS Lab will study state standards for student learning in conjunction with how players currently learn in popular video games.  From the sounds of it, the video games will subsidized so middle school and high school students can benefit from them without having to pay much, or anything, at all.  Video games will educate these students while providing teachers and parents with real-time feedback, much in the way that KinderTown intends to enlighten parents about their young children’s learning progress and abilities through apps that teach kids the basics of life – the ABC’s, counting, etc.
Lab personnel are optimistic about the capabilities of the upcoming games.  President and CEO of ESA, Michael D. Gallagher, says:

Video games can revolutionize American education and students’ testing and learning.  We can harness students’ passion and energy for video games and utilize that to reach and educate a 21^st century workforce with skills critical for college and career readiness.

In addition, Senior Program Office at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Robert Torres says video games will be beneficial in teaching students because of the ability games have to speak to these students in “their native language – digital media.”

GLASS Lab is important in keeping up with trends and educating children in a manner that fits in with a society that heavily relies upon technology.  EA is excited about the partnership and is anticipating its widespread potential.  Senior VP of EA, Jeff Brown notes:

The video game industry has experienced a transformative change over the past decade with the advent of new mobile, social and online platforms that have opened up opportunities for gaming in a number of sectors, including education.  We are excited to […] led our world-class IP and talent to the project